Clutch control apparatus



Ap l, 1952 H. c. ROWAND CLUTCH CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12, 1949INVENTOR. WARD C. ROWAND 2% 0 6mm QSQU mv a 6 mm m mow w AT TORhEYPatented Apr. 1, 1952 CLUTCH CONTROL APPARATUS Howard C. Rowand,Wanakena, N. Y., assignor to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, acorporation of Pennsylvania Application February 12, 1949, Serial No.76,058

6 Claims.

This invention relates to clutch control apparatus and more particularlyto apparatus for selectively controlling a plurality of clutch means.

In hoisting apparatus means including releasable couplings or clutchesare usually provided for varying the speed ratio between the driveengine and the hoisting drum for correspondingly varying the amount ofpower applied to the drum or the hoisting speed of the drum. Forinstance, there may be a high speed clutch and a low speed clutch eitherone of which may be employed for driving the hoisting drum and it isdesirable that before either one is engaged that the other bedisengaged.

The principal object of the invention is therefore the provision ofimproved apparatus for selectively controlling a plurality of clutchesor the like and embodying means for positively preventing either clutchbecoming effective to drive a drum or the like while another iseffective to drive said drum.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingmore detailed description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is a diagrammatic view ofa clutch control apparatusembodying the invention.

Description the clutch effective, that is a clutch engaged position.

Two pneumatic, double acting motors 3, 3a are provided for controllingthe positioning of the clutch control levers I, la, respectively. Eachof the motors 3, 30, comprises a casing containing a piston 4 from oneside of which projects a piston rod 5 which is connected to therespective clutch control lever i, la. At one side of piston 4 is apressure chamber 6 and at the opposite side a pressure chamber 1. Whenfluid under pressure is supplied to chamber 6 at a time when chamber 1is vented, as will be hereinafter described, the piston 4 will be movedto the position in which it is shown in the drawing for moving therespective clutch control lever l or la to its clutch disengagedposition. When fluid under pressure is supplied to chamber 1 at a timewhen chamber 6 is vented, the piston 4 will be operated to turn therespective lever l or la to its clutch engaged position designated byreference numeral 2 or 2a.

For controlling operation of the motors 3, (in there are provided,respectively, two fluid pressure relay valve devices 8, 8a, twointerlock valve devices 9, 9a, two double check valve devices I0, 10aand an operators control valve device ii.

The two relay valve devices 8, 8a are of identical construction, eachcomprising a casing having a chamber l2 containing a fluid pressuresupply valve I3 and a chamber [4 containing a fluid pressure releasevalve [5. The supply valve I3 is formed on one end of a stem Iii whichis slidably mounted in the casing. Adjacent the valve [3 the stem it hasan annular cavity ll which is open to a fluid pressure supply pipe l8,said valve being arranged to cooperate with a seat on the casing forcontrolling communication between said pipe and said chamber. An axialbore I9 extending through the valve [3 and stem I6 is open at one end tochamber 12 and at the opposite end to chamber I4 through a valve seatprovided on said plunger for cooperation with the release valve I5.Chamber M is open to atmosphere through a passage 20. A spring 2! inchamber l2 acts on the supply valve l3 for urging it to its seat. Therelease valve 15 is engaged by a stem 22 extending from chamber i4 intoa chamber 23 through a separating partition wall 24, the latter chamberbeing also open to atmosphere through a passage 26. The end of stem 22opposite that engaging the release .valve 15 is connected to the centralportion of a flexible diaphragm 21 which is subject on one side toatmospheric pressure in chamber 23, while at the opposite side of .saiddiaphragm there is a pressure control chamber 28.

In the relay valve devices 8, 8a, the supply :valve chambers l2 are opento chambers 6 in the the diaphragm 21 in said relay valve device will bedeflected to seat the release valve i5 against the stem l6 and thenoperate said stem to unseat the supply valve i3 for permitting fluidunder pressure to flow fromthe supply pipe l8 to pressure chamber 6 inthe respective motor 3 or 3a. Upon release of fluid under pressure frompipe 29 or 29a, fluid under pressure will be released from diaphragmchamber 28 in the respective relay valve device 8 or 8a to permit spring2| to seat the fluid pressure supply valve I3 and to permit pressure offluid from chamber I2 acting on the release valve l5 to unseat same forthereby cutting off supply of fluid under pressure to and for releasingthe fluid under pressure from pressure chamber 6 in the respective motor3, 3a.

The two interlock valve devices 9, 9a are of identical structure eachcomprising a casing having a chamber containing a fluid pressure supplycontrol valve 3| and a spring 32 for urging said valve to a seat againsta. partition wall 33 separating said chamber from a chamber 34. Thesupply control valve 3| has a fluted stem projecting therefrom throughthe partition wall 33 into chamber 34 past which stem communication isadapted to be established between said chamber and chamber 33 when saidvalve is unseated. On the end of valve stem 35 in chamber 34 there isprovided a fluid pressure release valve 33 arranged to cooperate with aseat provided on one end of a ,coaxially arranged plunger 31 forcontrolling communication between said chamber and an axial bore 38 insaid plunger which is open to a chamber 39- in the casing. The chamber39 is open to atmosphere through a casing passage 40 and is separatedfrom chamber 34 by a partition wall 4| through which the plunger3l'extends in sliding and sealing contact therewith.

The end of chamber 33 opposite partition wall 4| is closed by a cap 42and slidably mounted in this cap is a pin 43 arranged in coaxialrelation to the plunger 31 and provided in chamber 39 witha head 33connected to the adjacent-end of said plunger. A coil spring encirclingplunger 31 within chamber 39 is supported at one end on the partitionwall ll while its opposite end bears against the head 44 for actuatingsaid head to pull plunger 31 out of seating engagement'with the releasevalve 33.

The'interlock valve device 9 is arranged with the axes of its valve 3|,plunger 31 and pin'43 in coaxial relation to th -end, of the. piston rod5 of motor 311 in such a manner that as the piston 4 of motor 3a movestheclutch'control lever la into its clutch disengaged position, in whichit is shown in the drawing," he end of piston rod 5 acting through therespective pin 53, plunger 31 and the release valve 33 will unseat thesupply valve 3|, it being noted. that such movement of said plunger willfirst seat the release valve and is opposed first by spring 45 and thenspring 32. In other words, the supply valve SI of the interlock valvedevice 9 will 'open'only when the clutch control lever la issubstantially in its disengaged position rendering the respective clutchineffective. Upon movement of piston 3 of motor 3a in the oppositedirection the spring 32' will seat'valve 3|asi the clutch control leverla moves out of its clutch disengaged position followed by openingof therelease valve 35 and finally movement of the piston rod 5 out of contactwith pin 43.

' The interlock valve device 9a is similarly arranged with respect tothe motor 3 and its operation is also the same with respect to saidmotor.

The release valve chamber 34 in the interlock valve device 9 isconnected by a'pipe lllto pressure chamber '1 in motor 3 which chamber34 atmosphere by way of said pipes.

in the interlock valve device 3a is connected to pressure chamber 1 inmotor 3a by a pipe 49a. Chambers 33 in the interlock valve devices 9, 9aare connected by pipes 5|), 53a to one end of the double check valvedevices If], lila, respectively. The opposite ends of the double checkvalve devices ill, lilo are connected together by a pipe 5|, while pipes29a and 29 are connected respectively to side outlets of said doublecheck valve devices.

The double check valve devices It, Illa are structurally alike, eachcomprising a double check valve 52 arranged to be operated by fluidunder pressure supplied to act on either end to open communicationbetween that end and the side outlet of the device and to closecommunication between the opposite end and said side outlet.

The pipes 55, 53a and 5| are all connected to the operators controlvalve device II as is also a fluid pressure supply pipe 53. This devicemay be generally similar to the type disclosed" in United States Patent2,329,742 issued to RaJ. Bush et al., on September 21, 1943 and to whichreference may be had for a detailed description of its structure andoperation which are not considered essential in the present application.Briefly, the operators control device ll comprises a casing having aT-shaped' slot 54 through which extends an operating lever 55 formovement by an operator. The control device further comprises valvemeans (not shown) operable in response to movement of said lever to theposition in slot 55 in which it is shown in the drawing to open bothpipes 53, 55a to atmosphere-while opening pipe 5| to the fluid pressuresupply pipe 53. Upon movement of lever 55 to the end of slot 54designated by numeral 55 the valve means is adapted to operate to openboth pipes 50-and 5| to atmosphere while opening pipe 500. to the fluidpressure supply pipe 53, while upon movement of said lever to the end ofslot 54 designated by numeral til the valve means is adapted to beoperated to open pipes 53a, 5| to atmosphere While opening pipe 53 tothe fluid pressure supp y p pe 53.

Operation sure from pipe 53topipe 5i. With pipes 50, 50a

open to atmosphere the opposite'ends of "the double'check Vanessa andchambers 35 in'the interlock valve devices 9; to will also be open tocler pressure supplied to pipe 5| will therefore urge both double checkvalves 52 to the position in which they are shown'in the drawingwhereupon fluid under pressure, from pipe 5| will flow topipes 23, 25cand thence to chambers 28 in the. relay valve devices8, So for causingoperation or" said devices to supply fluid under pressure from pipe 53to the pressure chamber tin the motors 3, 3a. With chambers 5;thussupplied with fluid under pressure; and with chambers i V vented",as will be presently describedthe pistons i will assume the positions inwhich they are shown in the drawing for'holding the clutch controllevers l, m in their clutch disengaged positions'in which the releasevalves 35 are closedv and the supply control valves 3| are open inbothof the interlock valve devices 9, 9a; With the supply control valves 3|open in the interlock valve devices 9, 9a,'pressure chambers l in themotors 3, 3a will be open to chambers 30 and thence to atmospherethrough the vented pipes 50, 50a, respectively.

Now let it be assumed that the operator desires to move the clutchcontrol lever Ia to its clutch engaged position while allowing theclutch control lever I to remain in its clutch disengaged position. Toaccomplish this he will move lever 55 to the end 55 of slot 54 forsupplying fluid under pressure to pipe 55a while opening pipe 5| toatmosphere along with maintaining pipe 50 open to atmosphere.

Upon opening pipe 5I to atmosphere fluid under pressure will be releasedfrom the adjacent ends of the double check valves 52 and thereby frompipes 29, 29a and diaphragm chambers 28 of the relay valve devices 8,to. At the same time as fluid under pressure is thus being released fromthe one face of double check valve 52 in the double check valve deviceIlla fluid under pressure will be supplied however to the opposite facethrough pipe 56a, and as soon as the pressure of fluid in pipe 5|becomes reduced to a lower degree than that in pipe 58a said doublecheck valve will shift to its lower position for connecting pipe 55a topipe 25 and thereby to diaphragm chamber 28 in the relay valve device 8.Thus while there will be a momentary reduction in pressure in chamber 23of the relay valve device 8 in the operation under consideration, thepressure will be promptly restored so that the parts of said relay valvedevice will remain in the position shown in the drawing for maintainingthe respective motor piston 4 and clutch control lever I in the clutchdisengaged position and, as a result, the release valve 36 closed andthe supply control valve 34 open in the interlock valve device 9a. a

Contrary to operation of the relay valve device 8, the fluid underpressure in diaphragm chamber 28 of the relay valve device 8a will becompletely vented via pipes 29a and 5i since pipe 50 connected to theopposite end of the respective double check valve 52 is open toatmosphere at this time. As a result, the relay valve device 8a willoperate to open chamber 6 of motor 5a to atmosphere via chamber I2, boreI9, past the open valve I5, chamber It and passage 25 in said relayvalve device for releasing the fluid under pressure therefrom.

Fluid under pressure supplied to pipe a will flow to chamber 30 in theinterlock valve device 9a, past the open valve 3] to chamber 35 thereinand thence through pipe 45a to chamber '1 in the motor 3a. With chamber6 at the opposite side of piston 6 in motor to open to atmospherethrough the relay valve device 8a the pressure of fluid how effective inchamber I will actuate said piston to move the clutch control lever Iato its clutch engaged position, designated by numeral 2a. As aconsequence of this movement of the clutch control lever la the supplycontrol valve 31 will seat and the release valve 35 open in theinterlock valve device 9 thereby opening pipe 49 and pressure chamber 7in motor 3 to atmosphere past said release valve while closingcommunication between pipes 49 and 50.

To move the clutch control lever la back to its clutch disengagedposition, without change in position of the clutch lever I, theoperators control lever 55 need only be returned to the position inwhich it is shown in the drawing as will be apparent from previousdescription. It will also be apparent from the above description thatthe clutch control lever I may be moved to its engaged position,designated by numeral 2, and returned to its disengaged position inwhich it is shown in the drawing, without change in position of theclutch control lever Ia, by moving the operators control lever to,respectively, the end 57 of slot 54 and returning it to the position inwhich it is shown in the drawing.

Now let it be assumed that with the operators lever 55 in the position56 in slot 54, causing the clutch control lever Ia to be in its clutchengaged position, designated by numeral 2a, the operator desires to movesaid clutch control lever Ia to its disengaged position and as quicklyas possible move the other clutch control lever ll to its engagedposition. To accomplish this he will move his control lever from theposition 56 in slot 54 directly to position 51 in said slot, due towhich, pipe 50a will be opened to atmosphere, along with pipe 5|, 'Whilefluid under pressure will now be supplied to pipe 5|! thence to thelower end of the double check valve 52 in the double check valve deviceit! and also to chamber 30 in the interlock valve device 9. With theclutch control lever la in its engaged position at the instant, thesupply control valve 3| in the interlock valve device 9 will be closedto prevent flow of fluid under pressure from chamber 36, while pipe 49will be still open to atmosphere past the respective release valve 36.Fluid under pressure supplied via pipe 50 to the lower end Of therespective double check valve 52 will however shift it to its upperposition, since pipe 5| is now vented, and thence flow via pipe 29a todiaphragm chamber 23 in the relay valve device 9a. and actuate saiddevice to supply fluid under pressure from the supply pipe is to chamber6 in the motor 3a. Coincident with this supplying of fluid underpressure to chamber 6 in motor 301, the opening of pipe 55a toatmosphere will result in release of fluid under pressure from chamber Iin motor 3a past the now open supply control valve 31 in the interlockvalve device 5a and also release of fluid under pressure from chamber'28 in the relay valve device 8 and operation thereof to open chamber 6in motor 3 to atmosphere via chamber I2, bore (9, past the unseatedvalve I5, chamber I4 and passage 2|] in said relay valve device forreleasing fluid under pressure from said chamber, it being noted thatchamber 7 in said motor will be still open to atmosphere past theunseated release valve in the interlock valve device 9. With chamber 1in the motor 3a vented through the interlock valve device 9a and theoperators control valve device and with fluid under pressure supplied tochamber 6 in said motor, piston 4 in said motor will move the clutchcontrol lever Ia to its disengaged position. As the lever Ia moves intoits disengaged position the supply control valve 3! in the interlockvalve device 9 will be opened whereupon fluid under pressure present ininterlock valve device So for maintaining cham ber T in motor 3a open toatmosphere until the motor 3 is subsequently operated to return theclutch control lever I to its disengaged position.

From the above description it will be seen that When'the clutch controllever la is in its engaged position 2a with the operators control'lever55 inlpositi'on 55 in slot 5G, if the operator desires to effectmovement of the clutch control lever to to its clutchdisengagedrposition and as quickly as possible, movement-of the clutchcontrol lever l to its. engaged position he Will-move lever 55 fromposition 55 to position 5?, but fluid under pressure will not besuppliedto chamber 1 in motor 3 to move clutchcontrol lever i'to' itsengaged position .untilafter the clutch control lever to obtains itsdisengaged position. Converselyain a mannerwhich will be apparent fromthe above description, the interlock valve device 9a, as'controlled bymotor 3, will prevent operationof motor 3a tonrove the clutch controllever la-to its clutch engaging position, designated by referencenumeral 2a, prior to movement of the clutch control lever lto itsdisengagedposition in which it'is shown in the drawing.

' Summary From the above description it will now be seen that I haveprovided an apparatus for selectively rendering either one of aplurality of releasable coupling means or clutches either effective orineffective to transmit power from an engine or the like to a load to bedriven, and embodying means for preventing either clutch becomingeffective until after the other is rendered inefiective.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent; is: V

1. An apparatus ior selectively positioning eaohof two individualelements each having a first position and a second position, comprisingfirst position and a second position comp'ising -in--com-bination withsaid elements, motor means for each of said elements operable by fluidunder pressure to move the respective element to its first'position,means for effecting movement of each of said elements to its secondposition upon release of fluid under: pressure from the respec-' tivemotor means, control means for selectively supplying fluid underpressure to actuate either of said motorlmeans while releasing fluidunder pressure from the other motor means, and interlockmeans-operablein accordance with operation of said motor means for closing the fluidpressure supply communication to each of said motor means except withthe control element of the other motor means in its second-position.

3. An apparatus for selectively positioning each of 'two individualcontrol elements each having a first position and a second positioncomprising in combination with said elements, a motor means for each ofsaid elements responsive to iluid under pressure acting'injone chamberupon release of fluid under pressure from a second chamber to move the respective element to its 1 first position and responsive to-fiuid underpressure' acting in said-second chamber upon release -of fiuid-underpressure from said one chamber to move-the, respective element to itssecond positicn, means including a control valvedevice forselectivelyproviding fluid under pressure for a supply to said first chamber ineither one of the two motor means and to said second chamber in theother motor means while effecting afrelease of fluid'under pressure fromsaid second and first chambers in, respectively, said one and othermotor means, and valve means controlled by said motor means forclosingthe fiuid pressure supply communication to said first chamber ineither motor means except with the control element of the motor means inits second position.

4. An apparatus for selectively positioning each of two individualcontrol elements each having a first position and a second positioncomprising in combination with said elements, a motor means for each ofsaid elements responsive to fluid under pressure acting in one chamberupon release of fluid under pressure from a second chamber to move therespective element to its first position and responsive to fluid underpressure acting. in said second chamber upon release of fluid underpressure from said one chamber to move the respective element to itssecond position, means including a control valve device having a firstposition'for supplying fluid under pressure to said first chamber in oneof said motor means and to said second chamber in the other motor meanswhile establishing a fluid pressure release communication to said secondand first chambers in respectively said one and other motor mean andwith the control element of the respective motor means inits secondposition.

5. An apparatus for selectively positioning each of two individualcontrol elements each having a first position and a second positioncomprising in combination with said elements, a motormeans for each ofsaid elements responsive to fluid under pressure acting in one chamberupon release'of fluid under pressure from a second chamber'to move therespective element-to its first position and responsive to fluid underpressure acting in said second chamber upon release of fluid underpressure from said one chamber to move the respective element to itssecond position, means including a control valve device having a firstposition for supplying fluid under pressure to said first chamber in oneof said motor means andto said second chamber in the other motor meanswhile establishing a fluid pressure release communication tosaid secondand first chambers in, respectively, said one and other motor means,.andhaving a secondpositionfor supplying fluid under pressure to said firstand second ohambers respectively, in saidother and one motor means whileestablishing a fluid'pressure release communication to said first andsecond chambers, respectively, in said one and other motor means, andinterlock means controlled by each motor means for closing the fluidpressure supply com munication from said control valve device-to saidfirst chamber in the other motor means except with the control elementof the respective motor means in its second position,.sai dcontrol yalvedevice having a third position for eiiecting supply of fluid underpressure to said second chamber in both of said motor means whileopening a fluid pressure release communication from said first chamberin both of said motor means.

6. An apparatus for selectively positioning each of two individualcontrol elements each having a first position and a second positioncomprising in combination with said elements, a motor means for each ofsaid elements responsive to fluid under pressure acting in one chamberupon release of fluid under pressure from a second chamber to move therespective element to its first position and responsive to fluid underpressure acting in said second chamber upon release of fluid underpressure from said one chamber to move the respective element to itssecond position, first and second pipes for conveying fluid underpressure to and from said first chamber in, respectively, aid first andsecond motor means, means including third and fourth pipes for supplyingfluid under pressure to and for releasing fluid under pressure from saidsecond chamber in said first and second motor means, respectively, afifth pipe, a double check valve subject opposingly to pressures offluid in said first and fifth pipes controlling communicationtherebetween and said third pipe, another double check valve subjectopposingly to pressures of fiuid in said second and fifth pipescontrolling communication therebe- 10 tween and said fourth pipe, aninterlock valve device operable by said first motor except in the secondposition of the respective control element to close communication fromsaid second pipe to said second motor, an interlock valve deviceoperable by said second motor except in the second position of therespective control element to close communication from said first pipeto said first motor, and an operators control valve device for 1selectively supplying fluid under pressure to either one of said firstand second pipes While venting the other and said fifth pipe and forsupplying fiuid under pressure to said fifth pipe While venting saidfirst and second pipes.

HOWARD C. ROWAND.

REFERENCES CIEED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,488,736 Conradson Apr. 1,1924 2,180,154 Lenz Nov. 14, 1939 2,286,873 Schwartz June 16, 19422,464,986 Miller Mar. 22, 1949 OTHER REFERENCES Serial No. 400,817,Maybach (A. P. C), published May 18, 1943.

